Electric switch.



c.-1. KLElN, ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2 191|- 1 ,22?903. Patented May 29, 1917.

PATENT FFIE.

cnazenns a. KLEIN, or MILWAUKEE, wisconsin, assienor.frohnncU'rLEnfHAMi/mn rare.. co., or MILWAUKEE, wisconsin, aconroearionor wisconsin.

ELECTRC SWITCH. i i

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1917.

Application iled ctober 2, 1911. Serial No. 652,424.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United. States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of ldilwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric-SwitchDevices, of which the following is a full. clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to electric switch de vices.

It has among its objects to provide an improved electric switch devicewhich is adapted to make or break a circuit with a quick snap'action. Ithas further among its objects to provide an improved electric switchmechanism of unit form which may be readily inserted or removed whendesired from a suitable inclosing casing. Other objects and advantagesof my improved construction will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings l have illustrated three forms which myinvention may assume in practice. My invention is not however, limitedto these forms chosen for purposes of illustration, but may assume otherforms.

ln the views of these drawings z- Figure- 1 shows a side elevation ofthe switchmechanism in position in a casing. t

Fig. 2 shows a central sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows perspective views of the operating members raised inelevation .one over the other.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a modied form of switch mechanismwith a portion of the operating parts withdrawn.

Fig. 5 shows a similar view of a further modified form of switchmechanism. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 l have illustrateda snap switch mechanism of the push button type carried upon aninsulating base provided with suitable terminal connections which permitthe same. to be inserted in a suitable insulating casing or sockethaving two parts 1 and 2 in substantially the same manner as describedin my copending application, Serial No. 651,224, tiled Sept. 25, 1911.

The switch mechanism proper is carried upon an insulating base 3preferably of a disk shape which is seated in a suitable rc cess orchamber 4 in one of the parts of the socket or casing so that the switchmechanism lies in a plane substantially parallel with the inner surfaceofthe casing. An operating member 5 is provided at its opposite endswith push buttons 6 which are arranged to reciprocate through suit-ableopenings 7 on the opposite sides of the casing. This operating memberis-provided with a longitudinally disposed slot S be- ,tween its endsand is arranged to be reciprocated across the base ln a preferred formsuitable projections 9 forming a substantially rectangular shaped slotl() between the same are provided upon one side of the operating memberpreferably4 near 011e end of the slot 8. A central shaft 11 ispreferably suitably journaled in the base 3 and extends verticallyupward through the slot in th'e operating member. This shaft ispreferably inclosed where it passes through the operating member in asleeve 12, preferably of rectangular cross section, arranged to fitwithin the slot 8 and provided with a central vertically extending bore13 arranged to receive the shaft 11. As the shaft 11 is fixed to thebase 1 the amount of movement of the operating member across the base islimited by the engagement of the sides of the member 12 with the ends ofthe slot 8. Coperating with the operating member 5 and arranged to beactuated by the same, is a cam member 14 which is preferably locatedbelow the operating member and arranged to be rotated about the shaft 11by the engagement of the projections 9 with a projection or stud 15which extends upward from the body of the cam member 14. The lowersurface of the cam member 14 is preferably serrated as shown at 16 inFigs. 2 and 3 in order to provide a series of cam surfaces whichpreferably extend entirely around the bottom surface of the cam member14. As illustrated in Fig. 2 the member 12 preferably rests upon theupper surface of this cam member and is held in position against thesame by means of a spiral spring 17 which encircles the upper end of`the shaft 11. In a preferred form this spring is housed in a suitablerecess in a second insulating base 18, arrangerJ to fit over the switchmechanism and which if desired may be held to the base 3 by any suitablemeans. The serrated cam surfaces of the cam member 14 are arranged toengage bearing surfaces 19 on a movable contact member 20 pivoted uponthe central shaft 11 beneath the cam member. In a preferred form I formthe bearing surfaces 19 of steel balls seated in suitable recesses inthe movable contact member 2U on opposite sides of the perforationthrough which the shaft 1l extends, and beneath the serrated camsurface. of the caln member 1+. llowever, instead of using steel balls Imay obviously use other forms of bearing surfaces as for instancestruck-up portions from the body of the movable contact member. '.lhecontact surfaces olI the contact member 20 are located at its ends andare preferably beveled as shown at 2l in Fig. 25. These contact surfacesare arranged to engage suitable stationary contacts 22 mounted onopposite sides of the base Il. lt is of course obvious that if desired aplurality7 of these contact members may be used and the device thusadapted to control a plurality of circuits. ln a preferred ll'orm thecontact surfaces 22 are. provided with extended portions 22-3 of thetype described in my previously mentioned co-pending appliati0n, and thebase 3 is provided with suitable extensions which permit it to beinserted or removed from the casing 1 and 2 by simply adjusting asuitable screw or other fastening means 21. As in that application themember .1 of the base may be provided with a suitable terminal strip 25adapted to be connected to a threaded conducting shell 26 carried in thebottom of the casing, and the center contact of the device may be formedby the extension 27 on the lower stationary contact 22. 'lhe two parts 1and 2 of the casing may also be suitably secured together by means of ascrew 28 in a manner similar to that described in that application.

When it is desired to operate la switch mechanism of the type shown inFigs. l to 3 inclusive, all that it is necessary to do is to push in oneof the push buttons (S. 'lhe operatingmember 5 then moves acrossthe base3 carrying with it the projection 15 on the cam member 14, to rotatethis cam member and compress the spiral spring 17. When the crest of apair of the cani surfaces '16 on the cam member 14 pass over thebearing-surfaces on the movable contact member 20 the tension upon thespring 17 is released and the bearing surfaces pass down the oppositeinclines. of the cam surfaces, throwing the movable contact member 2()about its pivot 'with a quick snap action which tends to break thecircuit at the stationary contacts 22 with but little sparking so thatthe contact surfaces are able to `with. standlong use in service. By theprovision of the Wlping engagement of the contact surfaces 21 with theextensions 23 of the stationary contacts 22, the contact surfaces anismcarried upon an insulating base 29' similar to the base 5, and arrangedto be reciprocated across-the same in substantially the same manner. Inthis instance the operating member 30 1s provlded with a slot- 31arranged at one side of the same and near its center, the movement ofthe operating member being limited by the engagement of the ends of theslots with the central shaft 32. In this construction the operatingmember is beneath the movable contact member rather than above the sameas shown in the previous construction and this operating member carriesupon its surface preferably at a point adjacent the slot 3l, and at oneside of the same, the bearing surfaces which cooperate with the cammember. The cam member 34 in this construction is pref erably attachedto the under side of the movable contact member 35 and is preferablyprovided with a cam surface similar to that just described. In thisconstruction the movable contact member is spring-pressed by a spiralspring 36, one endA of which presses down upon the upper surface of themovable Vcontact member, end abuts against an adjustable tap 37 carriedon the threaded end of the shaft or spindle 3,2. lVhen the operatingmember 30 is reciprocated across the base 29, the bearing surface ismoved in this construction to force the cam member and the movablecontact member Iupward to compress the spring. 'hen the be'aring surfaceis moved out from' under one of the crests of the cam 34 the tension ofthe spring is re- 'leased and the movable contact member is oscillatedabout the shaft 32 with a quick snap action' to make or break contact atsuitable stationary contacts 38 which may be constructed similar to thecontacts 32 heretofore described. In order to limit the movement of themovable contact member, suitable stops 39. may be provided on op-vposite sides of the base 28.

In Fig. 5 I have. illustrated a further modified form which my inventionmay assume in practice. In this construction the operating member -10 isprovided with any suitable handle 41 and is arranged to oscillate, toeausethc movable contact member l2 to oscillate, and a plurality ofbearing surfaces 43 are provided on the upper surface of the movablecontact member 49..v As in the previous construction these bearingsurfaces may if desired assume the form of steel balls, and as in theconstruction shown in Fig. 4 the cam member may be attached to theoperating member. In this construction the movement of thc operatingmember while the otherl carries the cam ysurfaces-over the bearingl Ihave provided a snap switch mechanism which is adapted lto make vorbreak a circuit with a quick snap action. Further the construction isone which may be Amade of la Ismall number cliparts which may be readily'manufactured and is lone 'which adapted to withstand long use inservice. Further,

l by the 'improved'arrangement and construcv tion of parts, theswitchmechanism may be made very compact so that-it occupies but little spacevand which is of such a type-that it may befreadily adapted to a widerange of'uses.

While' Ifhave" in this appli/cation.

vscribed several specific forms which my inventionmay -assumein'practice, I do not wish to be limited to theserspeciic forms, butwish ratherf tofinclude within'the scope of this applic'ationall ofthose forms-of my invention which fall within its spirit.

` What lI claim as new and desire-to secure by Letters .Patent oftheUnited States is l.-In an electric switch, in combination,

" two 'movable members,'onea contact mem tuating member vtherefor, saidmembcrsbe4 ber andthe other an vactuating member, said members beingrelatively movable in parallel planes, a rigid projection on one of saidmembers, a rigid cam on the other of said members, and resilient meansholding said projection fand saldcam 1n constant yielding engagement.

a rotatable contact member, a movable acing oppositelymovable'in'parallclplanes and havingrigid` engaging parts, and rcsilientmeans holding said parts in constant yielding engagement.

A3."In an electric switch, 'in combination, a rotatable contact member,a rcciprocablc operating member therefor, an operative connectionbetween said members compris- A ing a rotatable peaked cam movable withone and a projection movable with the Leanser 2."` In an electricswitch, in combination, v

other, and resilient meansholding said' cam and said projection Ainconstant yieldable engagement.

4; In an electric switch,in combination, an

oscillating contact actuating member, a reciprocating operating 'membertherefor, and an operative connectlon between the same for imparting asnap movement to the former upon reciprocation of the latter comprisingoscillatingl Contact, rigid projections thereon having rounded surfaces,a second oscillat- 'ingmember having a peaked cam surface, a springholding said oscillatingcam in engagement withjsaid projection onsalid'contact member, ,anda reciprocating member connectcd'to said camto"osc illate the same.

"6. In an electric switch, aninsulating base, l

aspindle projecting therefrom, 'a reciprocable operating member having alongitudinally disposed slot and a transversely disi posed slot, saidoperating member being arranged. to reciprocate across said base andhaving said spindle extending through one of said slots, a cam memberrotatably mounted jupon said spindle,said cam member having a serratedactive surfacevand an upwardly extendingprojection, means for limitingthe movement of said operating member and for positioning said calnmember, and an oscillating movable contact member having bearingsurfaces arranged to engage the active surface of said cam member, saidcontact member being arranged to be oscillated about said spindle with aquick snap action-in an opposite direction to the direction of movementof said cam member after -said cam'member has traveled throughapproximately half of its travel.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two Wit-

